Former U.S. Secretary of State and the next possible Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has criticized the Japanese prime minister's visit to a controversial war shrine last year.
When Japan's Nihon Keizai (Nee-HON Kay-ZAY) Shimbun daily asked about her views on Shinzo Abe's running of state affairs, Clinton said guiding the nation on a right path while avoiding unneccessary responses from other countries would benefit Japan.
When asked if she was referring to Abe's visit to the Yasukuni shrine last December, which honors several convicted Class-A war criminals, she said "yes."
As for strained ties between Seoul and Tokyo over historical differences, Clinton said the issue is not one that can easily be controlled.